The Remnant

They that feared the LORD spoke often one to another and the LORD hearkened… and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.

Malachi 3:16

Malachi the prophet looks at the qualities of the Remnant and we have a lesson here to learn from that group of people:

1. They that feared the LORD – Proverbs 23:17; Psalms 111:10

Fearing the LORD is a lost jewel and sounds an out-of-date talk to us and hence we are not being able to live life to the fullest. Solomon reminds us in Proverbs that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Prov.9:10). He also says before this about the benefits of the fear of the LORD in Chapter 8:13a: to fear the LORD is to hate evil. Again in chapter 10:27 he exhorts: the fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

2. They spoke one to another – Romans 12:10,16

Malachi points the other quality of the Remnant as that of fellowship. They spoke one to another. This helped them to remain focused on their calling. They could celebrate about their growth and were helped in the areas of hindrances in their walk with the LORD. They became accountable one to another about their lives and shared with openness and assurance that their sharing will only lead to building them up in their spiritual relationship with the LORD as well as with each other.

3. They thought upon His name – Daniel 11:32

The third and the last quality of the Remnant is that they kept thinking upon their LORD’s name. The focus of their talks and personal lives was Jesus Christ and the upon His name. What was the significance of His name to them was always on their mind. They reminded themselves about the great I AM God they worshiped. They also eagerly awaited the promised Messiah. Their lives spoke volumes about their awaiting their promised Saviour.

Let’s all look at our own lives in the light of the above and we will be able to enjoy the benefits of the same. We will then be His witness to this wounded world. We will make sense to them then.

Mr. Steven Christian
(Cell Group Leader)